Best Toilet Riser Guide 2018

One of the most hassle-free and effective ways to ensure bathroom safety for individuals that suffer from loss of strength in the lower halves of their bodies is to install a toilet riser. These can be ones that can be placed directly onto your porcelain bowl and take the place of your regular toilet seat or ones that can be positioned between your existing toilet seat and the toilet bowl to add a few extra inches to your toilet’s height. Our Best Toilet Riser Guide covers the best ones for you to quickly acquire and use when visiting the bathroom.

The simple acts of sitting down and standing up may be a daunting process for individuals who are suffering from chronic joint pain issues, such as arthritis, or other frailty related issues that cause a loss of strength in the legs. And, it’s not only long term issues that can make sitting down and standing up a painful experience, but short term circumstances, such as recovering from surgery or a broken leg may cause the same kind of fear when sitting and standing is involved. So, if you’re terrified of going to the toilet, just because you’re going to have to impose excessive strain on your legs, then a toilet riser is what will immediately eliminate your fears, as it will reduce the amount you need to bend your knees, giving you an easier time when standing up again.

There are several different kinds of toilet risers, but the most practical and easiest to use are the hinged elevated toilet risers, as you are able to effortlessly lift and lower it onto your toilet bowl, treating it no differently than your regular toilet seat.

Why Do I Need A Toilet Seat Riser?

The acts of bending and standing up are two that we carry out extensively in our daily lives, and when we are unable to do these with the smoothness that is required of them, then even the simple acts of going to the toilet can be terrifying. In such situations, a toilet riser can be the single tool that can give you the comfort and ease you deserve; because everyone is worthy of going to the toilet without overthinking.

They come in all sorts of different styles and sizes, each with different features to accommodate your needs. Whether you would like the added features of an armrest, to provide you with extra support, ones that could be screwed on for added stability, or ones that can be easily placed on and taken off of your toilet bowl for portability, we have a whole list here to give you an idea of what’s available on the market, that can accommodate your needs. Hip, back and leg problems have been never easier to live with.

Where Do I get A Toilet Riser From?

If you’ve had a major injury and have been to see your doctor, s/he will possibly recommend you with one that they think will benefit you the most, depending on your level of injuries and how much you are able to bend and stand up. However, you can also buy them without your doctor’s recommendations. This is especially, for when you’ve had a minor injury and have not felt the necessity to visit your doctor. Toilet risers can be purchased from a medical equipment store, some pharmacies and online distributors. Their prices vary, depending on the extra features, such as arm rests, cut-out front and back parts, contoured areas for a comfortable sit. It is always good to read reviews on the toilet riser that you are planning to purchase, in order to get an idea of the experiences others have had with the particular riser you are interested in.

Below we have a few reviews of toilet risers that we feel will accommodate both the minor and majorly injured.

Raised Toilet Seat by Vive

This Raised Toilet Seat by Vive, in its entirety, is designed to provide you with ultimate comfort. With its five-inch depth, it makes sitting down and getting up off the toilet bowl an easy process. It is compatible with both standard round toilets, that measure about 16.5” in circumference, and elongated toilets that have a circumference of 18.5”. It is easily attachable to the toilet bowl, with no necessity for any tools. The lock at the front of the toilet seat ensures that it is securely fastened around the toilet bowl, restricting it from moving or sliding. This lock is also easy to fit into place, as all you need to do is twist the screw to lock it into place. It can be cleaned in a breeze with just some antibacterial wipes, so there is no need to detach it from the toilet bowl while cleaning, just treat it as you would your toilet seat (although you can detach it, if you think that it needs an in-depth cleaning which you can do by placing it in the shower or bath tub and rinsing it with some soap). This raised toilet seat by Vive is made of high-impact, durable plastic and can carry up to a weight of 250lbs. It has two padded handles, jutting out from both sides, which provides the extra stability you may need while sitting down and standing up. Due to its lightness, it is portable and can be carried along with you on those irresistible holidays.

The Raised Toilet Seat by Vive is an easy to attach one, requiring no tools at all for its attachment onto the toilet bowl. Its effortless attachability and detachability makes it the ideal raised toilet seat to use if you travel extensively, as you can carry it around with you without any hassle. This particular feature of the raised toilet seat is also especially helpful during the cleaning of it, as you can easily take it off and wash it in the shower. Extensive usage does not cause discoloration in the toilet seat. The lever on the front part of the seat allows it to be adjusted to several different toilet bowls. The handles on either side of the raised toilet seat, as well as the lock at the front provides stability, giving the user confidence and independence, as it gives them the ability to carry out the simple act of going to the toilet without needing any assistance. However, it is useful to know that the lock is made of plastic (in order to prevent it from scratching your toilet bowl once it is tightened), meaning that it might break and lose its grip over time. It is ideal for individuals with permanent leg and knee problems, besides temporary health issues such as knee replacement, as it will most definitely allow you to get through the recovery process. The extra 5” will give you the capability of standing up and sitting down easily without bending your knee too much, eliminating any pain and distress caused from putting pressure on your legs.

A possible downside of this toilet seat is that you won’t be able to cover it with your own toilet seat lid, as the area covered by the toilet seat raiser is much larger than that of the toilet seat. Due to the large area/frame of the raised toilet seat men may need to lean forward while urinating in order to prevent it from leaking on to the toilet seat. The armrest, although providing added stability, may cause an issue for larger individuals, as it narrows and restricts the seating area. As the Raised Toilet Seat itself is elongated in shape, it is an ideal fit for elongated toilets, and although it fits around standard toilets, there may be a risk of instability and slight movement of the seat, which may require you to hold onto both side bars when standing up. The armrests are also not high up enough from the toilet seat, creating a problem for individuals who are expected not to bend more than 90 degrees due to surgery.

COMFORTABLE DESIGN: Best raised toilet seat with ergonomic design adds five inches of height making it easy to sit down or stand up. Fits on most standard toilets (16.5") and elongated toilets (18.5"). Easily attaches to toilet bowl. No tools required for assembly

Raised Toilet Seat with Safety Frame (Two in One) PCP

The two in one Raised Toilet Seat by PCP is unique in its appearance and build as it assumes the role of both a safety frame and a raised toilet seat. It is ideal for individuals who have had surgery to the lower half of their bodies, and individuals with knee and/or hip pain. Its armrests are made of vinyl ensuring that they are resistant to high wear and tear. All four legs of the safety frame has silence rings placed on the ends making sure that they do not screech against the floor during movement. It has a sturdy 1 inch (2.5 cm) frame and a splash guard that sits around the toilet bowl and ensures that hygiene is maintained. It is light in weight and therefore can be moved around, removed and attached with ease. It can carry a maximum of 300lb. It is sold as one piece, so no additional tools or assembly is required, just take it out of the box, extend its legs to the highest position, place the product over the toilet and lower the legs to your desired height, making sure that the splash guard does not touch the inside of the toilet.

A feature that distinguishes the two in one raised toilet seat from the other toilet seats is that you do not need to consume excess energy to tighten bolts as the raised toilet seat is readily assembled on delivery. The fact that the safety frame is attached to the toilet seat makes it sturdier than the ones that are placed or screwed onto the bowl. The arms of the safety frame are approximately 9” above the toilet seat and provides the user with a secure platform to push off from when trying to stand up. I highly recommend this raised toilet seat for anyone that has balance issues and difficulty getting on and off the toilet, as the safety frame will provide all the stability. It’s lightweight and can therefore be moved around easily. The legs of the safety frame are adjustable to differing heights, ensuring that you are comfortable regardless of your height.

It is also easy to clean and can just be wiped with some antibacterial wipes. A downside to this raised toilet seat is that it does not come with a cover and you cannot use your regular toilet seat’s lid to cover it, which causes issues when flushing as water may splash out of the toilet bowl. Although, the instruction manual suggests that it can support a maximum weight of 300lb, this does not match with the narrowness in the seating area created by the armrest. So, it is much more ideal for thinner people, who will be able to move around and reach the toilet roll. It is also known to have shown signs of rust after five months of usage. The hole in the seating area is smaller than your average toilet bowl as the frame and splash guard are quite large, this may cause issues when trying to clean up.

Lightweight Molded Toilet Seat riser (5 inch lift) by PCP

This Lightweight Molded Toilet Seat Riser by PCP is light in weight and therefore easily portable, hence the ideal toilet seat for anyone who travels and moves around a lot. The installation of the toilet seat riser is an effortless one as there is no requirement for tools or assembly; all you have to do is place the toilet seat riser onto the toilet bowl and push it down in place. It adds five inches (12.7cm) to the toilet, ensuring that you are comfortable when sitting down and standing up, eliminating the pain and distress to your legs that comes with bending them excessively. It can carry up to a weight of 300lb.

The Lighteight Molded Toilet Seat Riser is absolutely secure, with no tendency to move around on the toilet bowl. It is also very easy to clean, as all you have to do is take the toilet riser off the toilet bowl and give it a scrub in the shower or a good wipe with some antibacterial wipes. It is the ideal toilet riser for anybody who is over their ideal weight, due to the lack of armrests that usually cause the narrowing of the seating area. It fits well on both elongated and standard round toilet bowls. The hole is big enough to allow you to clean yourself easily without any issues. It is also extremely cost effective, being amongst the cheaper toilet risers being sold. I suggest that men remove the toilet riser when urinating, as they may accidentally cause leakages onto the wide frame. The 5” height may also cause some issues for shorter individuals, as their legs may be left dangling, causing excess pain to their legs.

PCP brand elevated toilet seat riser is made for convenience and simplicity. Made in the USA, lightweight and easily portable, it can be quickly interchanged and removed as needed for toilet use. Durable molded plastic has superior strength with practically unbreakable contoured design.

Installation is quick and easy, no tools or assembly required. There are no drill holes or removable parts where bacterial can become trapped. This design allows for superior cleaning and hygiene.

No complicated locking features or moving parts, the increased lift of the seat can be applied by infirmed, feeble, weak or recovering patients. An excellent choice for seniors, limited mobility, assisted living caregivers, disabled or recuperating from hip, back, or lower body surgery.

Drive Medical Elevated Raised Toilet Seat

The Drive Medical Elevated Raised Toilet Seat is expertly designed as a bathroom safety solution for individuals who have difficulty sitting down and getting up from the toilet. It is made of plastic, which gives it its lightweight and portability. Although plastic may seem like a fragile material for a device that is to be used extensively, it is heavy duty plastic which can carry up to 300lbs. It has an easy-to-use locking device at the front which ensures that it is securely fitted onto the toilet bowl, eliminating any risks of unexpected sliding. The installation process is an effortless one, as no tools are required to attach the raised toilet seat to the bowl. The padded metal arms that jut out of both sides provide extra support for the user, and they are removable for those that feel that they do not need them (the metal arms may narrow down the seating area, making it difficult for overweight people to move around and clean themselves, so because the arms can be detached from this one, this may be the ideal one for you if you’re above your ideal weight). The seat adds an extra 5” to the toilet, ensuring that you can stand up and sit down on the toilet bowl without putting extra pressure on your legs from excessive bending.

The removable padded arms are the unique feature of this raised toilet seat, and it makes the seat ideal for both average weight individuals, as well as overweight ones, as the detached padded arms provides more space in the seating area. The seat is very easy to install and does not require any tools; all you need to do is twist the knob at the front of the raised toilet seat to secure it to the existing toilet seat or to the toilet bowl, then hook the back of the seat under the back rim of the toilet (the part where water flows out from) and then drop the front down, tightening the clamp in the front. The metal arms too can be attached effortlessly, as all you need to do is slide them into the side and lock them with the present self-lock feature. You can also adjust the metal arms to the height that you desire by the tiny buttons underneath the handles, where they connect to the plastic seat. Although the locking mechanism firmly secures the seat to the toilet seat, it is best to attach it directly to the porcelain toilet bowl, rather than the existing toilet seat because attaching it to the latter may cause some unexpected slippages. It was really easy to clean. Just scrub it with some antibacterial wipe. The detachable quality of the arms means that you can clean each metal arm individually and wipe them down. Its durable, heavy duty plastic suggests that it can carry up to 300lb in weight.

A downside to the Drive Medical Raised Toilet Seat is that the frame at the very front of it is extremely wide and may therefore require you to sit all the way back in order to prevent any spillages onto the frame. Again, because of the wide frame the seat may require daily cleaning; possibly washing in the shower for a more thorough clean. This may prove difficult for some patients that have just had surgery. The 5” height that it provides may also come across as being cumbersome for shorter individuals, as their legs will probably not touch the floor, hence it is recommended to individuals that are over 5’2”. Although the toilet seat is securely attached to the toilet bowl, it is always recommended that you hold onto both handrails when standing up, or not putting all your weight on one side if you are not using the handrails, for your own safety. The Drive Medical Raised Toilet Seat also does not have a lid, and you cannot close the top with the lid of your regular toilet seat, so this may cause some issues when flushing.

Drive Medical Premium Seat Riser

The Drive Medical Premium Seat Riser adds 3.5” to your toilet, making standing up and sitting down a painless process. This makes it the ideal toilet seat riser for individuals who are suffering from poor balance issues, arthritis and limited mobility, as well as individuals with minor injuries to the lower half of their bodies. It is easy to clean and can be scrubbed with some antibacterial wipes. This premium seat riser is placed under your regular toilet seat and screwed on with the existing screws from your toilet seat. This means that you can use the lid of your toilet seat to cover the top, making sure that water does not splash over the toilet bowl during flushing. The padded arms on either side of the toilet seat riser are 19.75” apart and can be removed or attached without the need for tools, as desired. These padded arms will provide you with extra support and stability that you may need whilst sitting and standing up. It is ideal for standard round toilets, but can also be used on elongated ones. It can hold up to 300lbs due to its heavy-duty molded plastic frame. It is light in weight also easily attachable and detachable which makes it ideal for those who travel a lot and want to carry their toilet seat riser around with them.

With its detachable arms the Drive Medical Premium Seat Riser is versatile, as it suits people of different weights, ensuring that they have enough room to move around. The handrails are adjustable, meaning that you can pull them closer towards you or push them further out. The premium seat riser is also easy to install. All you need to do is remove your own regular toilet seat, place the riser on the toilet bowl, then put the regular toilet seat back onto the toilet riser. Take the bolts from regular toilet seat and push them through your regular toilet seat into the holes of your toilet riser. Then twist the wing nuts onto the bolts and the job is done. The Drive Medical Premium Seat Riser is also remarkably easy to clean; when you loosen the bolts onto the riser you can slip a cleaning cloth in and around all the areas. It fits both standard round and elongated toilet seats.

Although the arms are optional to use, once you’ve bolted the seat riser to your regular toilet seat, you may need to unscrew the whole thing to take them off. So, ensure that you decide whether you want to use them, beforehand. This also creates a problem when wanting to clean between the seat riser and toilet seat, as the whole things needs to be unbolted to be able to do so. The toilet seat is known to have a tendency to wobble about a bit, so an additional piece of double sided tape could be placed between the toilet bowl and the seat riser to ensure that it does not move. Additionally, although the handrails are adjustable, even at furthest-out setting the seating area is still narrowed and may cause issues for overweight people.

Best Toilet Riser Guide – Finding The One For You?

With an overabundance in choices when looking to purchase a toilet riser, it might be difficult to settle on a single one. So, here are a few questions you may like to ask yourself prior to purchasing (and we’ve answered them for you).

Depth Needed In Your Toilet Riser?

This is probably the most important question to ask yourself before purchasing your toilet riser. Toilet risers generally tend to add 2 to 6 inches of height to your toilet. So, depending on your injuries and level of strength in the lower half of your body, your choice of toilet riser will differ. You will need to purchase a higher seat if you cannot bend too much.

Your own natural height also affects the depth of the toilet riser you are looking to purchase. So, if you are tall, you would want to purchase a higher riser.

Do You Need Armrests For Extra Stability?

If you need the extra support that an armrest provides you can either purchase a toilet riser with an armrest or you can buy a separate toilet seat frame to accompany your toilet riser. Armrests are generally, but not always, detachable and can be slid on and off as desired. Some can be adjusted to accommodate the height of the user, and can narrow down or widen the seating area, while others are cushioned for added comfort. However, if you already own a walker, you may not feel the necessity to buy a toilet riser with added arm rest or a toilet seat frame, as you can hold your walker as you would while using it for walking.

Are You Going To Be Carrying Your Toilet Riser Around A Lot Or Would You Like To Attach Your Toilet Riser To Your Toilet Bowl Permanently To Ensure Extra Stability?

Make sure that you know exactly how your toilet riser is to be attached to your toilet. The simple, basic ones that can be attached and detached with ease, usually need no tools when securing. However, others need to be screwed on to your toilet bowl or regular toilet seat with the help of clamps and bolts. The easily removable ones, usually have friction-adhesives stuck to the bottom that prevent the toilet seat from shifting about, these are high portable and are the ideal toilet seats for people who travel around a lot. The toilet risers that are secured to the toilet seat with the help of bolts are naturally much more secure and less likely to wobble around when sat on.

Is The Seat Able To Handle Your Weight?

On an average, toilet risers like the ones in our best toilet riser guide are able to carry up to 250 pounds, however some of them can carry up to 350 pounds, due to their high-impact plastic frames. There are some that are made specifically for overweight individuals; these comes under the title ‘bariatic style’ toilet risers.

Is Your Toilet Bowl A Standard Round One Or An Elongated One?

Most toilet risers are able to fit around both standard round toilet bowls and elongated ones, however some only accommodate one style, so ensure that you check thoroughly before purchasing.

How Easy Is It To Clean The Toilet Riser?

The basic toilet risers that can be effortlessly attached and detached can be taken off and wiped down with an antibacterial wipe or simply just placed into the shower and rinsed and scrubbed with some soap. The toilet risers that are permanently attached and the ones that have too many extra features are more difficult and complicated to clean and may retain urine between the toilet seat and toilet riser, which can only be cleaned by disassembling the whole toilet riser.

Other Toilet Risers That You May Like To Consider

Below are two other brands of toilet risers that I thought were worth checking out. A toilet riser is a necessity in the homes of those who have suffered some sort of major or minor injuries to the lower half of their bodies, as it provides them with complete independence.

Ableware 725790000 Basic Open Front Elevated Toilet Seat

The added 3” height on the Ableware Basic Open Front Elevated Toilet Seat makes lowering to and rising from the toilet an easier and safer process. The open front is the unique feature on this elevated toilet seat, as it provides easy access whilst cleaning, ensuring hygiene is maintained. No tools are required for its installation. Its high impact plastic frame enables it to carry a maximum of 350lbs, and prevents it from chipping or cracking, meaning that you will be able to use it for years. It can be used on both standard round toilets and elongated ones.

The Ableware Basic Open Front Elevated Toilet Seat is easy to attach and detach, as it attaches to the top of the toilet seat rather than requiring its removal. It is easy to clean and just needs to be scrubbed with an antibacterial wipe. It is light in weight and can therefore be carried around. The unique feature of this Elevated Toilet Seat is the cut-out piece at the front which promises hygiene, as there is no possibility of urine getting caught on the frame. Additionally, the cut-out front makes it easier for you to clean yourself without feeling the necessity to stand up. On the other hand, the cut-out front is known to be too narrow and tiny for someone with bulky and thick hands to fit their hands through. The toilet seat also has a tendency to move around and is not fully secured into place due to a lack in a locking device, so be careful not to apply too much weight to the front when standing. This is especially evident when it is placed over elongated toilets.

Yunga Tart Raised Toilet Seat

The Yunga Tart Raised Toilet Seat extends the height of your toilet with an extra 4.75 inches. Due to its basic design it is highly portable, and can fit around both elongated and compact elongated toilets. It can hold up to 275 lb. Its smooth edges make it easy to wipe and clean. There is a slight dip in the front and the back to ensure that you are able to reach in to clean yourself effortlessly. It comes with four non-skid pads, that are placed on the bottom to ensure that it is securely placed onto the toilet bowl, eliminating any risk of slippage. It contours towards the centre to make sure that you are comfortable when seated and to provide stability, as your bottom will sink in and remove the possibility of slippage. It is easy to install. All you have to do is place it on the toilet rim and it will click in itself. When the raised toilet seat is attached to the toilet bowl, both the seat lid cover and the seat will be raised into an upright position. It is perfect for patients who are recovering from a surgery, such as hip placement and knee surgery. As it does not come with any handrails, you may like to purchase the Yunga Tart Reacher Grabber “Plucker Up” to give yourself extra support when sitting and standing.

Due to the fact that the Yunga Tart Raised Toilet Seat fits onto your regular toilet seat without having to remove it, it is an easily installed one. The four non-skid pads work well and ensure that the raised toilet seat stays in place, without sliding about. The cut-outs in the front and the back of the toilet seat makes cleaning up an easily and effortless process. It is easily cleanable, all you need is an antibacterial wipe that will glide around smoothly, as the edges of the raised toilet seat are seamless. The tapered part in the centre of the toilet seat ensures that you are comfortable and prevents any accidental dripping of urine.

The only downside of the Yunga Tart Raised Toilet Seat is that it lacks handrails, which means that you may have a tendency to hold onto the toilet seat itself. However, this can cause some dangers, as leaning only onto one side may cause the raised toilet seat to detach. So, when using this toilet seat ensure that you are able to stand up and sit down without holding onto anything. If you are not able to do this, it is worth purchasing a walking frame or the Yunga tart Reacher Grabber. If you already have a walking frame at home, place it in front of you as you would when walking and grip it for added support.